Edge-Kote applicator

[gicts]

I've seen pictures and videos of people with something that resembles a thick crayon or stick, what is it? I've tried using towels, q-tips, and my boning tool but I can't get a straight line when applying. It's very wavy close to where I have edged the edge of the leather. A small part of the dye is on the face of the leather, and some of the leather edge just doesn't get covered.

[Kowboyboots]

I use a artist paint brush, what ever size works for what I am edging. Harder ones I think work best.

Edited November 3, 2008 by Kowboyboots

[hidepounder]

I've seen pictures and videos of people with something that resembles a thick crayon or stick, what is it? I've tried using towels, q-tips, and my boning tool but I can't get a straight line when applying. It's very wavy close to where I have edged the edge of the leather. A small part of the dye is on the face of the leather, and some of the leather edge just doesn't get covered.

I use a couple of different homemade applicators that work well. Take a piece of really heavy felt...maybe 3/8" thick....cut it into a 3/4" wide strip, maybe 2" long....fold it in half and rivet a leather handle to it......the handle is a 6" or 8" strip of skirting leather folded in half so that the felt strip when folded is sandwiched between the handle with about 1/2" to 3/4" protruding out the end...now you can use that as an applicator...it will produce a neat even line. Trim anything fuzzy sticking out. The more you use it, the more a slight groove will form in the middle of the felt and the easier it is to use. The ones I use now are stuffed and pinned in the end of a hollow plastic tube. If You can find a stiff enough piece of felt you can cut it into the shape of a wedge...works the same way. Hope this helpful and not too confusing!

[hidepounder]

gicts.....I forgot to tell you and I think this is imporant.......I slick the edge first before I dye it with spirit dye.

[tashabear]

You could also use an artist's blending stump, maybe. They're cylinders of pressed paper, sharpened into a point, and they come in a wide variety of sizes. A package of three is about $1.29.

[hidepounder]

You could also use an artist's blending stump, maybe. They're cylinders of pressed paper, sharpened into a point, and they come in a wide variety of sizes. A package of three is about $1.29.

I don't know about those tashabear...never seen one, but they sound really good. Any Art supply store?

[ArtS]

I use a piece of felt held with a plastic clip or I have some cotton daubers that I've burned down to about half the size.

Art

[tashabear]

I don't know about those tashabear...never seen one, but they sound really good. Any Art supply store?

They look like this; you should be able to find them with drawing supplies. My husband buys them by the handful at Michael's Arts & Crafts.

[celticleather]

A couple of years ago I landed a contract to make 100 belts for the Nicole Miller fashion house in the US. I couldn't face the thought of edging them all with a dauber or brush, so I made the little gadget pictured below. The reservoir is the cap from an aerosol can, and the central spindle is the plastic core from a thread spool. I hunted around for a not-too-soft foam to cover the spindle, and used a 3mm thick foam innersole, which is glued to the spindle. It's really easy to just draw the edge of the belt along the roller, which is constantly replenished from the reservoir.

I use it all the time now, but it's only suitable for non-spirit based dyes, such as Fiebings Edge Dye or Edge-Kote. Spirit-based dyes make the foam expand and disintegrate. It's saved me hours of fiddly work with a brush, and cost me nothing!

Just to show off, there's also a pic of Nicole Miller wearing one of the belts (not sure who the other girl is . . . maybe someone called Gershon?).

Edited November 3, 2008 by celticleather

[hidepounder]

They look like this; you should be able to find them with drawing supplies. My husband buys them by the handful at Michael's Arts & Crafts.

Thanks tashabear....I can't wait to try one!

A couple of years ago I landed a contract to make 100 belts for the Nicole Miller fashion house in the US. I couldn't face the thought of edging them all with a dauber or brush, so I made the little gadget pictured below. The reservoir is the cap from an aerosol can, and the central spindle is the plastic core from a thread spool. I hunted around for a not-too-soft foam to cover the spindle, and used a 3mm thick foam innersole, which is glued to the spindle. It's really easy to just draw the edge of the belt along the roller, which is constantly replenished from the reservoir.I use it all the time now, but it's only suitable for non-spirit based dyes, such as Fiebings Edge Dye or Edge-Kote. Spirit-based dyes make the foam expand and disintegrate. It's saved me hours of fiddly work with a brush, and cost me nothing!Just to show off, there's also a pic of Nicole Miller wearing one of the belts (not sure who the other girl is . . . maybe someone called Gershon?).

That's a terrific! It's a mini version of the edge dyer that Weaver sells for lots of money. I like the size of yours better!

I use a piece of felt held with a plastic clip or I have some cotton daubers that I've burned down to about half the size.Art

Does the felt work better than the daubers?